Jobs & Hobbies

There are a variety of jobs and hobbies that involve contact with lead. 

Lead dust can be carried from a person’s job or hobby on their skin, clothes, and shoes and can contaminate a person’s car, home, and furniture.

50+ screws with an automatic drill on a wooden deck.

Jobs and hobbies that can expose families to lead include:

  • Working in construction and at firing ranges
  • Working as a painter, plumber, welder, or mechanic
  • Home remodeling and refinishing furniture
  • Making stained glass, pottery, jewelry, or lead fishing sinkers

Whether it’s a parent, relative, or child care provider, anyone who works with lead should take precautions to prevent accidentally bringing home lead dust and exposing young children.

Precautions include:

  • Showering and changing clothes before coming home, getting in a car, and interacting with young children
  • Taking shoes off before coming inside to avoid tracking in lead dust and debris 
  • Washing clothing items that may be contaminated with lead dust separately from the rest of the family’s clothing

For a list of occupational, recreational, and environmental sources of lead, view: Everyday Sources of Lead.